Townhall has covered how Springfield, Ohio is dealing with all kinds of issues as a result of an influx of Haitian illegal immigrants. This includes ducks and cats reportedly being snatched up and eaten.
As a result, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that he would send law enforcement and health resources to the city of Springfield to help deal with the crisis.
“I want the people of Springfield and Clark County to know that as we move forward, we will continue to do everything we can to help the community deal with this surge of migrants,” DeWine said in a statement.
“The federal government has not demonstrated that they have any kind of plan to deal with the issue. We will not walk away,” he added.
Now, lawmakers in the Buckeye are working on legislation that may result in illegal immigrants being jailed, fined, and kicked out.
According to the New York Post, the America First Act is set to be introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives next week. This bill would support federal immigration law at the state level. Two Republicans, Reps. Gary Click and Nick Santucci, are finalizing the draft of the bill (via NYP):
New penalties under this legislation include a $500 fine and one year in prison — and double that for repeat offenders.
“The America First Act only addresses immigration already determined to be unlawful on the federal level,” Click said in an email to fellow Republicans in the statehouse. “This bill is not a ‘fix all’ for all immigration related issues, nor can it be. State level policies do not have the power to be comprehensive, but we can be complementary.”
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While states don’t have the authority to deport, under this legislation immigration violators will be required to leave Ohio within 72 hours after serving their sentence.
Illegal migrants in Ohio may soon be jailed, fined, kicked out thanks to proposed Republican law https://t.co/vpfHIntVXm pic.twitter.com/3qezA0ODru
— New York Post (@nypost) October 2, 2024
“The America First Act is a necessary measure to keep Ohio’s communities safe. The Biden-Harris immigration policy has put Ohioans at risk by allowing countless unvetted illegal immigrants across our borders,” Santucci told The Post. “This bill will ensure that, at least in Ohio, only those who respect our country enough to enter legally will be able to stay.”
Click said the bill is meant to “send a message” to lawful immigrants who “value America enough to knock and come through the front door.”